Bell and spigot pipe joint



y 20,1937 H. Y. CARSON ET AL ,0

' BELL AND SPIGQT PIPE JOINT Filed Dec. 12, 1955 ATTORNEYS Patented July20, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE BELL SPIGOT PIPE JOINT ApplicationDecember 12, 1935, Serial No. 54,014

6 Claims.

This invention relates to pipe joints of the bell and spigot type andhas for an object the provision of means for packing such joints whichshall include separate and independent clamp members adapted to bearupon and firmly hold the packing in place in the joint, and which may beseparately applied and separately removed.

Another object of our invention is the provision of a. packing meanswhich shall be especially 1 adapted to the packing of pipe joints Wherethe pipe is of relatively large diameter, and which shall readily adaptitself to irregularities in pipe diameter and in contour, especiallyencountered in such pipe.

A further object of our invention is the provision of packing means forpipe joints of the bell and spigot type which shall include a minimumnumber and weight of parts, be of extremely simple design, economical ofmanufacture, and which shall involve a minimum of labor in itsapplication. 1

In the design of packing joints of the gland type for bell and spigotpipe, as heretofore known to the art, there has usually been employedone or more relatively heavy rings embracing one or both the bell andspigot ends of the pipe, which include means for pressing against asuitable gasket inserted in the recess between the bell and spigot ends.Where the pipe is of relatively large diameter it has been the practiceto make-the rings in two or more sections secured together by suitablemeans, whereby to simplify their application.

While such joints have rendered satisfactory service, they have involvedcastings of considerable weight and a multiplicity of parts. Inaccordance with our invention, by slight modification of the bell end ofthe pipe, we are enabled to provide a packing means of the gland type inwhich what corresponds to the gland boltsin our improved packing arecaused to engage and'take a purchase upon a suitable surface provided onthe bell of the pipe, and in which independent elements, independentlyand separately applied, are caused to engage tightly and hold the gasketin place.

Devices embodying features of our invention are illustrated in theaccompanying drawing forming a part of this application, in which Fig. 1is a fragmentary plan view of one form of our invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line II-II of Fi 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view showing another form of '55 our invention;

' Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional View taken along the line VV of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing a still further modified form of ourinvention.

Referring to the drawing, We show in Figs. 1 and 2, the spigot end ll)of a steel pipe inserted in the corresponding bell end ll of itsadjacent pipe. The outer end of the bell end of the pipe is flared,asshown at l2, to form a packing recess 13. In the packing recess I3 isplaceda gasket [4 of suitable packing material, such as rubber. Aroundthe base of the flared portion [2 of the bell end of the pipe, isdisposed a band It, which may be secured to the bell end by any suitablemeans, such as by tacking welds H. The band 16 V is preferablytrapezoidal in cross section and disposed so that the side- [8 remotefrom the adjacent end of the pipe is inclined with respect to the pipetoprovide an undercut surface, as shown in the drawing. We may employ ametallic ring I!) surrounding the spigot end of the pipe 10 and bearingagainst the gasket l4 in the packing space l3.

The assembly just described. is held in place by a suitable number ofclamp members, which will presently be described. The number of clamp--members employed may depend upon the service to which the pipe is'putand the internal pressure within the pipe, but forbest results the clampmembers should be placed closely adjacent around the entire perimeter ofthe joint. Each of the clamp members comprises a gland portion 2| whichhooks over the flared portion l2 of the bell end of the joint and, inthe modification as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, engages with the circularmetallic ring 19 which bears against the'gasket M. The inner surface ofthe gland portion 2| is made to conform toand engage with the'innersurfaoe'of the flared end l2.

Extending substantially normal to the gland portion 2| is a body portion26 having a bolt hole 23 therein. Extending substantially parallel tothe gland portion 2| of the clamp member is a shield 22 which extendstoward the band I6 on the outside of the flared portion l2 and which isformed to embrace partiallly a clamping bolt 24 which extends throughthe bolt hole 23. g

The clamping bolt 24 is formed with a hook portion 26 which engages theband 16 and, when the nut 21 on the bolt 24 is tightened up, causes thegland portion 2| of the clamping member to engage tightly the steel ringl9 and flared portion I2 and force the gasket 14 tightly into the pack-I ing space l3. The bolt 24 may be offset at 28 in order to reduce thematerial required for the clamp member, to bring the point of engagementof the nut 21 nearer to the flared portion l2 and to bring the directionof force exerted by the bolt 24 parallel to the flared portion I2. Theshield portion 22 of the clamp member engages the bolt 24 to hold thehook 26 into tight engagement with the band I6.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, where a steel ring I9 is employed to bearagainst the gasket M, the

gland portion 2| may be formed with separate bearing fingers 29 toengage the ring |9, .and thereby obtain a more even distribution ofpressure upon the steel ring l9 than if a continuous surface wereemployed.

In Figs. 3 to 5 we show a modification of our invention adapted forpacking cast iron pipe joints of the bell and spigot type. the pipe isshown at 3| and the bell end at 32. In order toadapt the joint for ourimproved packing means we form the bell end with a rectangular shoulder33 and extend the outer end of the bell at 34 to form a somewhat deepercylindrical portion 35 for the bell than has heretofore been thestandard practice, for a purpose to be described presently. Within therecess formed between the bell and spigot ends of the joint we dispose arubber or other suitable gasket 36.

The clamp members employed in connection with the cast iron pipe jointare similar to those already described in connection with the steel pipejoint. They embody gland portions 31 which bear against the gasket 36,but which may comprise a continuous surface bearing against the gasket36 and thus obviate the necessity of the continuous metallic ring I9.The gland portions 31 are also formed to bear against the cylindricalwall of the recess 35 formed by the bell extension 34. The clamp membersare each provided with a body portion 38 having a bolt hole 39 thereinthrough which is inserted a clamp bolt 4| having a hook portion 42engaging the rectangular shoulder 33 on the bell end of the pipe. Thebolt-4| is provided with a nut 43 todraw the hook portion 42 into tightengagement with the surface 33, and the gland portion 31 of the clampmember in tight engagement with the gasket 36 and the cylindrical wallof the recess. The shield portion 44 of each clampmember extendssubstantially the full length and partially embraces the bolt 4|. Also,in accordance with this modification, it will be noted that the bolt 4|is substantially straight and that the shield portion 44 bears againstthe surface of the bolt 4| throughout its length.

It will be seen that in tightening the nut 43, engagement of the glandportion 31 with the cylindrical wall of the extension 34, serves to drawthe hook portion 42 inwardly of the bell end of the pipe and there is notendency for the hook portion 42 of the bolt to move outwardly andbecome disengaged from the rectangular shoulder 33. This action is alsoaided by the'direction of force in tightening the nut 43, in that thehook portion acts as a fulcrum for the force applied by the nut 43 toforce the hook portion 42 into tight engagement with the rectangularshoulder 33. The action just described is further aided by the shieldportion 44 of the clamp member engaging the bolt 4| and acting as areenforcement tothe clamp member. Further, the shield portion 44,hearing against the bolt 4|, causes the gland portion 31 to move inparallelism with the bolt against the gasket 36.

The spigot end of In accordance with this modification, where nometallic ring H is employed to bear against the packing gasket, theclamp members should be placed around the perimeter of the jointabutting each other, as shown in Fig. 4, so as to provide an evendistribution of pressure against the gasket entirely around the joint.

Referring now to Fig. 6, we show a still fiu'ther modified form of ourinvention. This modification is illustrated with a cast iron bell andspigot joint, as described in Figs. 3 to 5 inclusive. Instead, however,of gland members bearing directly against the gasket 36, we provide ametallic ring 46 for bearing against the gasket, which ring ispreferably elongated in cross section and made to flare outwardlyslightly away from the gasket, as shown in the drawing. The clampmembers, according to this modification, are provided with hook portions4'! which hook over the ring 46 and press it into the recess against thegasket 36 when the nut 43 is tightened on'the bolt 42. With thearrangement just described, the ring 46 is self-centering on the gasket36 and, in turn, holds the clamp members in place by reason of the hookportions 41 hooking over the ring. 1'

It will be seen from the foregoing that our improved packing joint,comprising independent, separately applied and separately removablemembers for holding the packing material in place, readily adapts itselfto irregularities in surface and contour of the pipe sections. Forexample, if one section of pipe be slightly. out of the adjoiningsections are angularly disposed with respect to each other and wherethere are always inequalities in depth of the packing recess.

While we have shown our invention inbut three forms, it will be obviousto those skilled in the art that it is not so limited,'but issusceptible of various other changes and modifications, withoutdeparting from the spirit thereof, and we desire, therefore, that onlysuch limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the priorart or as are specifically set forth in the appended claims. 7 V

What we claim is: V 1

1. A clamp member for packing bell and spigot joints comprising a bodyportion. having gland means adapted to hook over the bell of the pipeand clear the adjacent exterior surface'of the spigot end of thecooperating pipe, a'bolt extending through the body portion on theoutside of the bell, a hook on one end of the bolt adapted to engage asurface on the outside of the pipe and draw the gland means inwardly ofthe bell, and a shield on the body portion of the clamp member partiallyembracing and engaging the bolt. 7

2. A packing means for bell and spigot pipe joints comprising a gasketin the recess between the bell and spigot ends of the pipe, a metallicring bearing against the gasket in the recess, means forming a retainingshoulder near the bell end of the pipe, a multiplicity of separate clampmembers disposed about the joint, means on the clamp members bearingagainst the ring and clearing the adjacent exterior surface of thespigot end of the pipe, and anchoring bolts 00- operating between theshoulder and the clamp members to draw the clamp members into pressureexerting relation with the ring.

3. Means for packing bell and spigot pipe joints comprising a gasket inthe recess between the bell and spigot ends of the pipe, means formingan external anchor retaining shoulder extending around near the bell endof the pipe, separate clamp members for exerting pressure on the packingeach comprising a gland portion extending into the recess and bearingagainst the inner surface of the bell, and having clearance with respectto the exterior surface of the spigot end of the adjacent pipe, a bodyportion substantially normal to the gland portion and having a bolt holetherein, a shield portion extending substantially parallel to the glandportion, a bolt extending through the body portion, and anchor means onthe bolt to engage with the anchor retaining shoulder on the pipe.

4. Means for packing bell and spigot pipe joints as set forth in claim3, in which a metallic ring is interposed between the gland portions ofthe clamp members and the gasket.

5. Means for packing bell and spigot pipe joints as set forth in claim3, in which the means forming a retaining shoulder near the bell end ofthe pipe comprises a metal band extendin around the pipe and securedthereto.

6. Means for packing bell and spigot pipe joints as set forth in claim3, in which the means forming a retaining shoulder near the bell end ofthe pipe comprises a metal band trapezoidal in cross section anddisposed to present an under cut surface on the side remote from thebell end, said band extending around the pipe and being secured thereto.

HARRY Y. CARSON. RALPH J. TEETOR.

